(03-03-2025, 08:22 AM)mikesez Wrote:

(03-03-2025, 01:07 AM)homebiscuit Wrote: Irrelevant. The U.S. and Europe want the war ended. It's the goal at this point to stop the hostilities in order to hold further talks and it shouldn't be difficult because both sides are exhausted in every sense, although Russia remains the stronger one. It's a matter of changing the demanding bellicose rhetoric on both sides towards the direction of peace. This is why Zelinsky got jumped. He believes he has the heft to question future U.S. diplomatic relations with Russia. He doesn't. Ukraine is the little guy who held his own for a while against a bigger and stronger opponent, but predictably, he's destined to eventually lose the fight and thus is bidding from a position of weakness - despite a combined $400B in aid from the U.S. and Europe.

Additionally, with the long term in mind, Russia will be assuaged. For good or bad, they are an international mover and shaker. They're in a position of power because they are a major player in the global arena. In the following decades, Russia is who the world will continue to deal with. Not Ukraine. 

Like the U.S., Russia is big and powerful and can throw its weight around too. Love it or hate it, that's the rules of the road for international relations. 

There really are more dimensions to this situation than simply trying to manufacture another Russia collusion lie.

You didn't answer my question and you didn't explain why.  Yes the situation has multiple dimensions, but Russia co-opting our political parties is one of them. Again, you are the one who said Putin will respect Republicans but attack Democrats.  You started the conversation in this direction.  I'm only reflecting back the implications of your words, and you haven't refuted it.

Can you explain exactly what "weakness" Bush 43, Obama, and Biden "projected" in the moments before Georgia, Crimea, and Ukraine were attacked, and explain in what sense Trump did not project that same weakness? Because if there is no objective difference, it really looks like Putin picking and choosing his times and places for the sake of narrative only.

I did answer your question and explain why. You're so fixated on steering the argument that you simply glossed it over and interpreted it with your bias. Where did I say Putin will respect Republicans and attack Democrats?  Question for you: Do you believe Biden projected weakness to the world? 

Your ultimate rhetorical goal here is to demonstrably prove that Trump is a Putin stooge while ignoring the fact that negotiating with Russia goes beyond Putin. Dealing with Russia is a thorny issue for the reasons I listed. I'm trying to illustrate big picture, but you're fixated on TDS talking points.

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